3 year old doesn't want to sleep in her bed

[gottasmile]

Hello! Just wondering if anyone can give me some advice?

My 3.5 year old dd co slept with me until she was about 2.6. Then I tried putting her in her own bed, but she would wake up and call out for me every night at around 3 or 4am. After a few months of this, i'd had enough and she started sleeping with me again.

Now that she's bigger, she pushes me to the side of the bed and takes over my pillow so that I have to move her a few times a night. I'm really at the end of my tether, I haven't had a good night's sleep since she was born and I feel so tired all the time.

I've tried bribery to get her to stay in her bed and it works for a few nights, then she goes back to waking and coming to my bed. She clearly states that she wants to sleep with me. I wouldn't mind if i was getting a good night's sleep, but she disturbs me so much that I feel mad with her in the morning.

Can anyone give me any advice? Very much appreciated!!

[gottasmile]

..... just bumping.....

[yellowsubmarine41]

Different background, but our 4 year old usually calls out for us and comes into our bed around 3 or 4am. She's often very restless and also does a nice line in 'do worms have ears?' type conversations to boot.

Sticker charts with a reward for 7 stickers had minor success.

I'd definitely start her off in her own bed. When she moves in with you, try putting a couple of pillows on their sides as a sort of barrier between you and her (one near heads, one near feet).

[gottasmile]

Thank you yellowsubmarine41. Sounds like you're having a hard time too.

Funnily enough I have tried the pillows and she just rolls over them onto me!

I will try the sticker chart, but i'm not sure it will work. She's a big negotiater and tries to "make deals" with me. She just does not want to sleep on her own.

Thanks for your advice, I'm sure she'll outgrow this eventually!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Really feel for you as our DS didn't sleep a whole night through until he was 5, although he did have some medical problems for some of that time.

The only thing that worked for us was being really strict with the sticker chart. We picked something he really, really wanted and he got a sticker each time he slept through. When the chart was full he got the much treasured present. We also withdrew all other treats more or less at the time although we didn't really tell him. Just didn't want him thinking something along the lines of "it doesn't matter if I don't get A 'cos I still get B, C & D regularly anyway".

Wondered if you have read this book already?

Hope you find something that works for you soon.

[gottasmile]

Wow, Jilted, that must have been so so hard. I hope it's better for you now. I haven't read that book, but have read others. I really haven't been strong enough with her - but it's hard at 3 in the morning!!

I will try the sticker chart and be really STRONG and STRICT!!!

Thanks for the advice and sympathy!